Electromagnetic control, especially for crossing gates of toy and model railroads

ABSTRACT

An electromagnetically operated control device, especially for a toy and model railroad, in which a disc is driven slowly in rotation by a vibrating armature and on one side has an eccentric for actuating a reciprocable element and on the other side has a plurality of annular contact paths engaged by contact fingers. When a coil adjacent the armature is energized to set the disc in motion, one contact path thereon provides for keeping the coil energized for 180* of travel of the disc while another contact path provides for intermittent sounding of a signal during one of the periods of rotation of the disc. The initiation of coil energization can be accomplished by manual switches or by switches operated by a train on the track of the railroad. The disc may cause a crossing gate to swing down to closed position during one 180* of travel of the disc and then to swing up to open position during the next 180* of travel of the disc.

O Umted States Patent [151 3,641,466 Ernst [4 1 Feb. 8, 1972 [54] ELECTROMAGNETIC CONTROL, 3,064,098" 1 l/ 1962 Nicolaus 2.....335/190 ESPECIALLY FOR CROSSING GATES OF TOY AND MODEL RAILROADS 5mm Attorney-Walter Becker [72] Inventor: Max Ernst, bohengrinstrassc 14, 85 Numberg, Germany [57] ABSTRACT [22] Filed: Aug. 6, 1970 An electromagnetically operated control device, especially for a toy and model railroad, in which a disc is driven slowly in [211 App! rotation by a vibrating armature and on one side has an eccentric for actuating a reciprocable element and on the other side [30] Foreign Application Priority Data has a plurality of annular contact paths engaged by contact fingers. When a coil adjacent the armature is energized to set Aug. 7, 1969 Germany ..G 69 31 193.9 the disc in motion, one Contact path thereon provides for keeping the coil energized for 180 of travel of the disc while another contact path provides for intermittent sounding of a [58] k I 335/190 310/20 21, signal during one ofthe periods ofrotation ofthe disc. The in- 1, 6 itiation of coil energization can be accomplished by manual switches or by switches operated by a train on the track of the C I railroad. The disc may cause a crossing gate to swing down to [56] closed position during one 180 of travel of the disc and then UNITED STATES PA'I'ENTS to swing up to open position during the next 180 of travel of the disc. 2,451,840 10/1948 2,950,369 8/1960 Bonanno Lewandowski ..46/243 S 10 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures PATENTEDFEB 81912 3.641.466

IN V EN TOR. W01 If 5/- The present invention relates to an electromagnetic control,

.especially for crossing gates of toy and model railroads.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved control of the above-mentioned type so that by means of two pressure switches it will be possible to effect a reciprocatory movement of a control member without the necessity of having to keep the switch closed while assuring that after completion of the control operation the drive motor will again be turned off.

These objects and advantages of the invention will appear more clearly from the following specification in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. I diagrammatically illustrates a side view of a toy gate for toy railroads in combination with a control according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a top view of the arrangement according to FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 shows the device of FIGS. 1 and 2 while omitting all electrical elements.

FIG. 4 diagrammatically illustrates the provision of two 7 trol member while furthermore one of the current conductors leads to the oscillating armature motor through a contact path of the disc and through current collector contacts in such a way that after each rotation by 180 the disc stops automatically, a separate actuating switch being associated with the movement in one and the other direction.

According to the present invention it is suggested to provide the disc with at least two concentric contact paths, one of which is in a manner known per se, provided with oppositely located nonconducting cutouts having associated therewith a contact spring serving for current interruption following a reciprocatory movement, whereas the second contact path comprises an extension pertaining to the first contact path which extension at a standstill of the disc is located alternately below one of two contact springs which initiating the control movement lead each to a contact switch.

According to a further feature of the invention, it is suggested concentrically to the ,two above-mentioned paths to provide the disc with a third contact path composed of a plurality of segments by means of which in response to the closing of the gate by the control mechanism, a bell system is periodically supplied with current impulses.

According to a still further feature of the invention, the disc is provided with a fourth contact path closed over 360 which is electrically connected to the remaining contact path and on which a sliding contact rests which is adapted to establish an electrical connection to the oscillating armature motor.

According to a further feature of the invention, the contact disc provided with different contact paths is produced in the manner of a printed circuit while those parts of the path which do not serve as current conductors are left standing as insu lated metallic surfaces and are electrically separated from the current conducting parts by narrow insulating gaps only.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the sliding contacts associated with the individual conductorpaths are adjacent to each other connected to a common insulating plate. Preferably, they are of the same length and have their resilient end resting preferably on the contact disc provided with the conductor paths along the diameter perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of said paths.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, the arrangement shown therein comprises a base plate of iron sheet metal which has a plurality of stamped-out portions with upwardly bent ears, said ears serving for connection of various elements of the gate or the drive.

The gate 2 is pivotally mounted on two columns 3";

preferably consisting of any suitable synthetic material and is adapted to be pivoted by a shaft 4. The gate 2 is, in a manner known per se, equipped with a counterbalance weightS and with the imitation of a gear segment 6. On segment 6 there is provided a pin 7 having pivotally connected thereto an adjusting or control mechanism/The connection to the adjusting or control mechanism is effected by a wire spring 8 which is suspended by means of .an eye on pin 7. Spring 8 has its other end bent so as to form a portion 8 by means of which it rests within a vertical slot 9 of an upwardly bent car 10 of the control lever 11 which, by means of a hollow rivet 12, is pivotally connected to the baseplate 1, said lever 11 havingits inter mediate portion provided with an oval cutout l3.

A disc of insulating material 14 is rotatably joumaled on a pivot 15 on baseplate 1. Disc 14 has its bottom side provided with a round disc 17 which, by means of a hollow rivet 16, is eccentrically to the pivot 15 firmly riveted to disc 14. The diameter of disc 17 equals the width of the oval cutout 13, said disc 17 being guided within said cutout 13. When disc 14 rotates about pivot 15, thelcver 11 carries out a reciprocatory movement. The ear 10 on lever 11 will then move over a greater distance than pin 7 on segment 6 wherebyanexcessive stroke will be effected. In view of the frictional connection between the lever 11 and the wire spring 8, '8' it will be appreciated that always a complete opening and closing movement of the gate 2 will be carried out.

Disc 14 is driven by an oscillating armature motor which primarily comprises an electromagnet 18 provided with a coil 18' and connected to the baseplate l and furthermore comprises a soft iron armature 19. The armature I9 is riveted to a leaf spring 20 which has its rectangularly angled-off other end 20 connected to the car 21 of the baseplate l. The left-hand extended end of armature 19 is provided with a ring or cap 22 of rubber. This ring or cap is located in the vicinity of the circumference of disc 14. The armature l9 furthermore engages thebaseplate 1 between the ears 23 and 24 whereby said armature 19 is held in a precise position with regard to the electromagnet or the gate. The rim of the disc 14 is somewhat roughened. ,One feeding line 25 to the coil 18' is soldered at 25 to the baseplate l. The other feeding line 26 is, on an insulated element 27, connected at 26' with current feeding line which leads to the pole 28. I

The operation of an oscillating armature motor of the above-mentioned type is known per se. When coil 18' receives alternating current, the armature 19 carries out oscillations while the rubber ring 22 impacts upon the rim of the disc 14. As a result thereof, disc 14 is subjected to relatively slow rotary movement, and in the specific instance shown in the drawing is rotated in counterclockwise direction as indicated in FIG. 3 by an arrow. The speed of disc 14 may be adjusted by bending the cars 23, 24 on the baseplate 1.

For actuating or for the self-control of the driving device, the following devices have been provided. To an insulating plate 32 which is connected to the baseplate 1 by means of cars 29, 30, 31 there are riveted five contact springs arranged adjacent to each other and having substantially ,the same length. These contact springs have their free ends provided with a downwardly directed bend and resiliently rest on disc 14 approximately on the same diameter of the disc which extends perpendicularly to the springs. The lowermost spring 33' in FIG. 2 leads to a contact 33 which, through the intervention of a conductor 33a (FIG. 4), leads to a voltage pole of a net transformer 45. The spring 34' thereabove leads to a contact 34 which, through a conductor 34a, is connected to a contact of the actuating switch 48 through which the signal opening gates" is conveyed. Spring 35' above the spring 34 is electrically connected to an car 35 of the baseplate 1 and thus through the mass of the baseplate l is electrically connected with the line 25 of coil 18'. Spring 36' is electrically connected through the contacts 36 and conductor 36a to the actuating switch 47. When switch 47 is actuated the signal close gates" is conveyed. The uppermost spring 37 leads through contact 37 and conductor 37 a to a signaling system 46, for instance, in the form of a bell.

The disc 14 is, through its printed circuit, provided with four concentric conductor paths which in part serve as contact connections and in part are insulated and only by a narrow insulating gap are separated from the current guiding parts and thus merely serve as sliding paths for the contact springs. Plate 14 has an innermost contact path 38 which is completely closed over 360 and which therefore through the spring 35' is in continuous electrical connection with the current supply line 25 of the coil 18.

It may be mentioned that the second current feeding line 26 on coil 18' is continuously electrically connected through contact 28 and conductor 28a to the other voltage pole of the transformer 45 so that when this circuit is closed, the oscillating armature motor will turn the disc 14 in counterclockwise direction.

The second contact path 39 which extends around the closed contact path 38 comprises only one narrow segment 39 which electrically connects the contact path 38 to the third contact path 41. Between the paths 38 and 41 there is provided a relatively long path 40 which does not receive voltage, but only serves as sliding path for the two contact springs 34' and 36'. The contact path 41 is, at the extension of the segment 39, provided with two insulating cuts 42 which are so wide that the contact spring 39 resting on the contact path 41 will, in the respective position shown in FIG. 2 and in the position offset thereto by 180, rest on this insulation, whereby the current supply from the contact 33 through said spring 33, contact path 41, segment 39, contact path 38, and the further connection to conductor 25 will be'interrupted. As will be seen from FIG. 2, in both positions, either contact 36, as illustrated, or contact 34 is through contact path 38, connected to the feeding line 25.

The fourth contact path comprises a plurality of narrow segments 43 on the right-hand side of disc 14 which are electrically connected to the contact path 41. The remaining parts 44 of this contact path are electrically insulated from the current conducting contact paths 41, 43 and serve as sliding path for the contact spring 37'.

FIG. 4 illustrates the circuit for the gate of a one-track railroad crossing. The two rails of the track 49 are, in a nonillustrated manner, supplied through two conductors with direct current from the net transformer 45'. The housing 50 forthe control of a gate 2 is expediently provided with an operators booth 51. The oppositely located housing for the control of v devices 47 and 48 having a common voltage pole 53 electrically connected to the conductor 33. It may additionally be mentioned that when the installation is automatically operated by rail contacts, the transformer 45 has to be provided with a connecting line 54 indicated by dash lines through which one of the two current conducting lines which serves as ground cable has to be connected to conductor 33 or voltage pole 53 of the switch which is then located between the tracks.

The operation of the control according to the invention for the gates of a toy railroad can easily be derived from the drawing. In this connection, it should be noted that the devices illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 3 represent the condition in which the gate is open. From FIG. 4 and the arrangement in FIG. 2 it will also be seen that an actuation of the switch 48 has no effect upon the device. If, however, switch 47 is actuated, the oscillating armature motor 18, 18' receives voltage through line 36 so that the disc 14 starts rotation in counterclockwise direction. This brings about that through the contact 33 and the conductor 33 the motor will further be kept under voltage until the disc 14 has reached its position offset by 180 and until the upper insulating gap 42 is below the contact spring 33'. During this movement, in short time intervals, the line 37 has, through segments 43, been supplied with current so that when closing the gate, the bell system 46 was actuated. During this half revolution, the eccentric 11 has been moved from the position illustrated in FIG. 3 to its rightwardly pivoted position and through the friction coupling between eye 9 and the spring yoke 8, 8' has moved gate 2 to its closing position.

If it is desired again to open the gate, it is now possible by actuating the switch 48 to start the motor again through conductor 34 whereupon the cycle is repeated while gate is being opened. During this opening movement, the contact spring 37' rests on the long insulated part 44 of the outer contact path so that with this return movement the bell mechanism will not respond.

As will be evident from the above, the control according to the present invention excels by extreme simplicity and safety of operation and is suitable for manual operation by means of pushbutton or toggle switch but can also be designed for full automatic operation in which instance, for instance, the locomotive while moving will, when approaching the railroad crossing, bring about the closing of the gates and at a certain distance on the other side of the railroad crossing will allow the gates to open again. I

When operating the gates by hand, the position of the switch will reflect the position of the gate. During automatic operation, it is necessary to provide one or two contacts which will initiate the closing and opening of the gates at a predetermined distance ahead of and behind the railroad crossing, depending on whether the track is passed over in one direction only, or in both directions. When a plurality of tracks are provided, each track is individually equipped with control contacts of the above-mentioned type. When the tracks are passed over in both directions, they will at both sides of the railroad crossing for each track, be equipped with one control contact each for closing and with one control contact for opening the gate. In this connection, it is advisable to arrange the contacts either directly adjacent to each other or if this is not possible to arrange the contacts in the sequence contact for opening, contact for closing, gates, contact for closing, contact for opening, inasmuch as, in this way, also during a slow movement of the train over the two contacts on each side of the railroad crossing, a faulty operation of the gates will not be possible.

It is, of course, to be understood that the present invention is, by no means, limited to the particular showing in the drawing, but also comprises any modifications within the scope of the appended claims. 1

What is claimed is:

1. An electromagnetically operable control device, especially for toy and model railroads comprising: abaseplate, a disc rotatable on said baseplate a vibrating armature adapted when vibrating to engage the periphery of said disc and drive the disc slowly in rotation, an eccentric on said disc and an arm pivoted at one end on said baseplate and engaging said eccentric so as to be oscillated by rotation of said disc, said arm at the other end thereof being adapted for connection to an element to be actuated, a coil on the baseplate energizable to cause said armature to vibrate, a source of energy from said coil having one side connected to one side of the coil, said disc having a region thereon continuously connected to the other side of said coil, a first annular contact path on said disc having diametrically opposite nonconductive cutouts therein and conductive between said cutouts, a first contact finger on said base having an end resting on said first contact path so as to make electrical contact therewith except when said end rests on one of said cutouts, a radial projection on said first path 2. An electrically operable control device according to claim 1 which includes a second annular contact path on said disc concentric with said first annular contact path, said second contact path having circumferentially spaced areas electrically connected to said contact region, a fourth contact finger on said baseplate having an end engaging said second contact path and resting on a nonconductive portion thereof when the end of said first contact finger rests on a said cutout, said fourth contact finger being connected to one side of an electrically operable signal and the other side of said signal being connected to said one side of said source of energy.

3. An electrically operable control device according to claim 2 in which said contact region comprises an uninterrupted third annular contact path on said disc concentric with said first and second contact paths and electrically connected to the conductive portion of said first path by said radial extension, and a fifth contact finger on said base having an end engaging said third contact path and electrically connected to said other side of said coil.

4. An electrically operable control device according to claim 3 in which said disc has one side in the form of a printed circuit forming said annular contact paths and said radial projection, the portions of at least said second contact path which are nonconductive comprising metal regions separated from the conductive regions of the said path by insulating gaps, said radial projection forming a part of a further annular path comprising a metal region separated at opposite ends from said radial projection by insulating gaps.

S. An electrically operable control device according to claim 4 which includes a block of insulating material on said baseplate supporting said contact fingers, said fingers being spaced uniformly along said block and projecting therefrom parallel to each other outwardly over said disc, the ends of said fingers engaging said contact paths and in the path of said radial projection being disposed on a diameter of said disc.

6. An electrically operable control device according to claim 1 in which said switches include manually operable switches.

7. An electrically operable control device according to claim 1 in which said element to be actuated comprises a gate swingable between an upper open position and a lower closed position and pivotally mounted on said baseplate and friction clutch means connecting said other end of said arm to said gate for movement of said gate between upper open and lower closed limits thereof and permitting overtravel of said other end of said arm.

8. An electrically operable control device according to claim 7 in which said switches include switches adapted to be operated by a train on tracks leading past said gate and supplied by said source, the switch for closing the gate being closer to the gate than the switch for opening the gate.

9. An electrically operable control device according to claim 7 which includes a wire pivotally connected at one end to said gate and formed to a U" shape at the other end, and a slot formed in said other end of said arrn frictionally engaging said other end of said wire, said other end of said wire and said slot forming said friction clutch.

10. An electrically operable control device according to claim 1 in which said eccentric is in the form of a round plate fixed in an eccentric position to the bottom of said disc, said arm having an elongated hole extending lengthwise therein and receiving said round plate. 

1. An electromagnetically operable control device, especially for toy and model railroads comprising: a baseplate, a disc rotatable on said baseplate, a vibrating armature adapted when vibrating to engage the periphery of said disc and drive the disc slowly in rotation, an eccentric on said disc and an arm pivoted at one end on said baseplate and engaging said eccentric so as to be oscillated by rotation of said disc, said arm at the other end thereof being adapted for connection to an element to be actuated, a coil on the baseplate energizable to cause said armature to vibrate, a source of energy from said coil having one side connected to one side of the coil, said disc having a region thereon continuously connected to the other side of said coil, a first annular contact path on said disc having diametrically opposite nonconductive cutouts therein and conductive between said cutouts, a first contact finger on said base having an end resting on said first contact path so as to make electrical contact therewith except when said end rests on one of said cutouts, a radial projection on said first path connecting the conductive portions of said first path with said region, second and third contact fingers on said base having ends engaging diametrically opposite points on said disc in the path of said radial projection and a respective one thereof engaging said radial projection when the end of said first finger engages a respective one of said cutouts, and a pair of switches each having one side connected to the other side of said source and the other side of each switch being connected to a respective one of said second and third contact fingers.
 2. An electrically operable control device according to claim 1 which includes a second annular contact path on said disc concentric with said first annular contact path, said second contact path having circumferentially spaced areas electrically connected to said contact region, a fourth contact finger on said baseplate having an end engaging said second contact path and resting on a nonconductive portion thereof when the end of said first contact finger rests on a said cutout, said fourth contact finger being connected to one side of an electrically operable signal and the other side of said signal being connected to said one side of said source of energy.
 3. An electrically operable control device according to claim 2 in which said contact region comprises an uninterrupted third annular contact path on said disc concentric with said first and second contact paths and electrically connected to the conductive portion of said first path by said radial extension, and a fifth contact finger on said base having an end engaging said third contact path and electrically connected to said other side of said coil.
 4. An electrically operable control device according to claim 3 in which said disc has one side in the form of a printed circuit forming said annular contact paths and said radial projection, the portions of at least said second contact path which are nonconductive comprising metal regions separated from the conductive regions of the said path by insulating gaps, said radial projection forming a part of a further annular path comprising a metal region separated at opposite ends from said radial projection by insulating gaps.
 5. An electrically operable control device according to claim 4 which includes a block of insulating material on said baseplate supporting said contact fingers, said fingers being spaced uniformly along said block and projecting therefrom parallel to each other outwardly over said disc, the ends of said fingers engaging said contact paths and in the path of said radial projection being disposed on a diameter of said disc.
 6. An electrically operable control device according to claim 1 in which said switches include manually operable switches.
 7. An electrically operable control device according to claim 1 in which said element to be actuated comprises a gate swingable between an upper open position and a lower closed position and pivotally mounted on said baseplate, and friction clutch means connecting said other end of said arm to said gate for movement of said gate between upper open and lower closed limits thereof and permitting overtravel of said other end of said arm.
 8. An electrically operable control device according to claim 7 in which said switches include switches adapted to be operated by a train on tracks leading past said gate and supplied by said source, the switch for closing the gate being closer to the gate than the switch for opening the gate.
 9. An electrically operable control device according to claim 7 which includes a wire pivotally connected at one end to said gate and formed to a ''''U'''' shape at the other end, and a slot formed in said other end of said arm frictionally engaging said other end of said wire, said other end of said wire and said slot forming said friction clutch.
 10. An electrically operable control device according to claim 1 in which said eccentric is in the form of a round plate fixed in an eccentric position to the bottom of said disc, said arm having an elongated hole extending lengthwise therein and receiving said round plate. 